ARCATA/McKINLEYVILLE – After 17 years of weekly service to their respective communities, the Arcata Eye and McKinleyville Press newspapers will publish their final editions Wednesday, Sept. 25, then cease publication.

In other news, the Mad River Union, a new weekly newspaper merging the Eye and the Press, will debut with Issue 1, Volume 1 on the following Wednesday, Oct. 2.

This union of newspapers will include the best of the Arcata Eye and the best of the McKinleyville Press. It will be co-published by veteran newspapermen Kevin L. Hoover and Jack Durham.

In a sense, the Mad River Union will restore the tradition of the beloved Arcata Union, which closed after 109 years in 1995. Hoover and Durham both worked at the Union, which covered Arcata, McKinleyville and beyond.

The Mad River Union will provide readers a bigger and better-defined paper than its two antecedents, with virtually all the content now found in the Press and the Eye.

By joining forces, the papers will be able to eliminate duplication in management, distribution, production and printing, and reallocate resources to best serve readers and advertisers.

The staff will be better positioned to do old-fashioned reporting, with more consistent content management. Local communities will receive more thorough coverage of news and events. The merger will also double the readership for advertisers, who will enjoy more exposure and a significantly larger distribution area.

The Mad River Union will be headquartered in a new, larger office in the lobby of Jacoby’s Storehouse on the Arcata Plaza. It will be printed at Western Web in Fairhaven.

The Arcata Eye had been scheduled to close on Feb. 14, 2014, ending an independent community newspaper tradition in Arcata that began in the mid-1800s. That gloomy scenario has now been averted.

“We only started talking about this a few weeks ago, but right away we saw that it made major sense on multiple levels,” said Eye editor Kevin Hoover. “We’ve been able to start with a blank sheet of newsprint and re-imagine the entire operation to make the most of our assets and better serve readers. It’s been quite exhilarating.”

“I always wanted to provide the people of McKinleyville and Trinidad with a larger paper with more comprehensive news coverage, but the Press just didn’t have the resources,” said Press editor Jack Durham. “Joining forces will make it possible to provide the communities with the news coverage they deserve.”

Like the Eye and Press, the Mad River Union will be an independent, non-partisan community newspaper that reflects the character and diversity of the communities it covers. The Union strives to provide readers with a newspaper that is fair, accurate, relevant, smart, engaging, adventurous and open to all, without fear or favor.

Readers who liked the previous papers will find even more to enjoy with the Union, which will grow to two sections that feature expanded news, opinion and community coverage. The popular Police Log that began with the Union, then continued with the Humboldt Beacon and Arcata Eye, will continue in the Mad River Union.

“Many readers have lamented the imminent loss of a weekly hyperlocal newspaper, and now, that doesn’t have to happen,” Hoover said. “Making this possible is the diverse talents of our staff and the loyal support and encouragement of our readers. With the new paper, none of that ability and enthusiasm will go to waste.”

Durham will serve as the paper’s editor, Hoover as an Arcata-based reporter. The Eye’s Lauraine Leblanc will be the Scene Editor and handle production tasks. Ad Manager Jada Brotman will connect the newspaper with area businesses. Reporter Bryn Robertson will also provide local coverage, as will the other reporters and columnists you’re used to reading in the Eye and Press.

“Although readers weren’t aware of it, there were times in the past when the Press teetered on insolvency. The Press endured some tough times and faced an uncertain future,” Durham said. “This merger will help ensure that the communities of Northern Humboldt County get real newspaper coverage for years to come.”

“Reapportioning our resources, particularly the time and skills of our resourceful staff, gives us the strength we need in this challenging time for newspapers,” Hoover said. “It will be exciting to see what we can all accomplish under this much more rational structure.”

An MRU FAQ

What will happen with my current subscription?

If you subscribe to the Eye or the Press, you’ll just start receiving the Mad River Union on Oct 2. If you subscribe to both papers, we’ll extend your subscription to make up the difference.

What will the Union cost?

The Mad River Union will cost $1 if you purchase it from a rack or retail location. This is the Eye’s current price. The Press is now 50 cents an issue. To avoid this higher price, subscribe to the Press right now and save a bundle.

I’m an advertiser. What happens to my ad?

When the Mad River Union comes out, twice as many readers will behold your ad. You’ll be contacted before the first edition of the Union to discuss your advertising position.

Why is the McKinleyville Press office in McKinleyville being closed and what does it mean for me?

The Press was never able to staff its office and maintain open hours. Calls were answered by an answering machine. Readers and clients will now be able to visit an office with regular hours in Arcata. When they call, an actual person will pick up the phone. If you need to drop something off and can’t get to Arcata, give us a call. Jack can come to McKinleyville and meet with you.

What if I don’t like the Mad River Union?

The new paper will have all the stuff you already like, but more and better. You’ll likely wonder – as we do – why the two papers didn’t merge long ago. If you have any issues or thoughts, please get in touch. We like to talk to readers.

I want to be part of history. How do I advertise in the final editions of the Eye and the Press. How do I advertise in the first edition of the Mad River Union?

The Mad River divides, but binds Arcata and McKinleyville. It has been central to the development of Northern Humboldt County. “Union” represents the union of the two papers, and obviously harkens back to the pre-Eye newspaper at which we were privileged to work, that served Arcata so well for so long. Also, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was already taken.